If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Welcome to Mac-Forums! Join us to comment and to customize your site experience! Members have access to different forum appearance options, and many more functions.

Hello,
I know it's agreed upon that Macs don't need apps like SpyBot, antivirus, etc.
However, I'd appreciate this community's opinion on a cleaning apps. What I mean is:
1. Apps that find and help you eliminate duplicate files ( music, images, etc.) with high accuracy to prevent deleting needed files.
2. Apps that can scan the machine and help you remove unneeded files, such as temp files, cache, installation files, etc., etc., etc. In other words, an app like CC cleaner, etc. Even though the Mac is not too vulnerable to spyware, I am certain it still acumulates a lot of just junk that can be cleaned out.
3. Once, the junk files are removed. Is it recommended to defrag or otherwise scan a Mac to optimize its performance?
4. Any other suggestion will be appreciated.

1. Apps that find and help you eliminate duplicate files ( music, images, etc.) with high accuracy to prevent deleting needed files.

Really, this starts with the user.

Once the damage is already done, you can use Duplicate Annihilator for iPhoto duplicates, and scripts from Doug Adams (not the dead one, another guy) to do the same for iTunes.

2. Apps that can scan the machine and help you remove unneeded files, such as temp files, cache, installation files, etc., etc., etc. In other words, an app like CC cleaner, etc. Even though the Mac is not too vulnerable to spyware, I am certain it still acumulates a lot of just junk that can be cleaned out.

Not really. You're WAY overthinking this ... let go of the PC paranoia (or OCD disorder, whichever is driving this).

The OCCASIONAL use of a tool like OnyX is MORE than sufficient for healthy maintenance along with good practices like regular backing up and keeping a fair amount of free space available at all times, quitting programs when you're done with them and so forth.

3. Once, the junk files are removed. Is it recommended to defrag or otherwise scan a Mac to optimize its performance?

Nope. Again, most of this is not really necessary. Congratulations on moving to a platform where you no longer have to be a full-time "manager" of the computer.

Onyx seems impossible to download. Have tried it 5 times, and still failed. For some reason the downloaded file is not recognized. Tried both, the stable and the beta. No luck so far.

On an unrelated topic, for a long while I have been curious about the File Cut function. It even is listed in the Edit file, yet it's grayed out. What's the deal with that? Cutting is a useful function.
Thanks!

Be aware there are many versions of Onyx out there and assuming you are using an Intel machine, your post does not provide this critical information, go to the Apple web site and download the correct Onyx there:-

Oops. I had to come back right away. I tried to run OnyX, and it won't run. When I click, it tries to start, but the application never opens. I have seen this behavior before. Does it mean this version doesn't run on 10.4.11?
Thanks.

I have to laff at some of the replies here about being a full time "manager" if you are on PC.

I'm finding the same thing with being a relatively speaking newbie to the mac scene. Not that I want to let my guard down entirely as it relates to viruses and malware and junk, but you're right, it takes a while to adapt the mindset.